File cabinet drawer



y 7, 1934. .1. c. SEYL FILE CABINET DRAWER Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jufiy 17, 1934. J. CQSEYL FILE CABINET DRAWER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1934 Patented July17, 1934 v UNITED STATES"- PATENT OFFICE FILE CABINET DRAWER Joseph C. Seyl, Iivanston, Ill. Application February 5, 1934, Serial No. 709,710

10 Claims. (01, 129-16) The invention relates generally to file cabinet and fits slidably against the inner face of the drawers for retaining or holding in a substantialfront of the drawer. 1y vertical position papers, records, files and like :A still further object of the invention is to promatter. More particularly, the invention relates vide a filing cabinet drawer which is generally I to that type of filing cabinet drawer which has a of new and improved construction and may be 60 longitudinal channel in'the central portion of the manufactured at a comparatively low cost. bottom thereof and a longitudinal rod in the 'Other objects of the invention and the various channel, and embodies a plurality of upstanding advantages and characteristics of the present partitions which serve to separate the papers intoconstruction of filing cabinet drawer will be ap- 10 groups, are free to swing backwards and forwards parent from a consideration of the following de- 65 to a limited extent in order to facilitate access tailed description. to the papers and are connected to the rod so that The invention consists in the several novel feathey may be shifted bodily throughout substantures which are hereinafter set forth and are more tially the entire length of the drawer so as to; particularly defined by claims at the conclusion vary the space between them. i hereof;

One object of theinvention is to provide a fil- In the drawings which accompany and form ing cabinet drawer of this type in which the con-, a part of this specification or disclosure and in nections between the partitions and the rod which like numerals of reference denote correwhereby the partitions are shiftable bodily sub-l spending parts throughout the several views:

stantially throughout the entire length of the Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a fil-' 75' drawer comprise (1) blocks which are slidably ing cabinetdrawer embodying the invention; mounted on the rod and have holes in the sides Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the thereof, and (2) arms which are connected to, rack which is mounted in the channel in the and depend from, the lower portions-of the pardrawer bottom to swing vertically into and out of titions-and have inturned lower ends which fit interlocked relation with the dogs on the bottom 80 in the holes in the blocks and form pivotal conportion of the partitions; nections between the blocks and the partitions Figure 3 is avertical, transverse section of. the so that the latter are free to swing forwardly and a drawer, illustrating in detail the construction and backwardly in the drawer. arrangement of the dogs and the, arms for conhe bje o t e nve t s 110 p o d necting the partitions pivotally to the blocks on 85' a filing cabinet drawer of the last mentioned, the rod; character in which the blocks have pairs of p Figure 4 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken lugs at the sides thereof which coact with the deon the line 4+4 of Figure 3 and showing in dep d arms on the bottom portions of h tail the manner in which the depending arms on titions in order to limit forward and w d the partitions are pivotally connected to the 90 swin in moveme of th partitions in the blocks and coact with the stop lugs on the sides drawen. of the blocks in order to limit forward and back- Another object of the invention is to provide a Wa'rd swinging of th partitions; fil ng cab t drawer 0f the p and Character Figure 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken 40 under consideration in which the partitions are on th 1i e 5 5 of Figure 3;

provided adjacent to the arms With depending Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the blocksdogs an the partitions are leleasably locked whereby the partitions'are connected tothe rod against bod y ft lengthwise of t drawer by so that they are shiftable bodily substantially means of a rack W i is i p in, and extends throughout the entire length of thedrawer; and

lengthwise 9 the channel in the bottom o the Figure 7 is a bottom view of the block of Figure drawer and is mounted Swing Vertically into 6 disclosing the manner in whichthe latter is conterlocked relation with the dogs.- i meted slidably t th A furth r ob t o the invention i to p ov a The drawer which forms the subject matter of fili bi drawer of the e and character the invention is designed for association with a 50p1flSt mentioned in which the vertically swinging bi et r analogous supporting structure (not rack in the channel in the drawer bot m s @011- shown) and serves to-retain in a substantially vertrolled as far as swinging thereof into and out of 'tical position papers, records, files and like matinterlocked relation with the dogs is concerned, ter. It is adaptedto slide horizontally inv the by means of an arm which is connected to and exfiling cabinet or supporting structure and com- 55 tends: upwardly from the front end of the rack "prises a bottoms; sides9, afront 10and aback 11,

as well as a plurality of upstanding partitions 12 for separating the papers in the drawer, as is well understood in the art. The bottom 8 of the drawer is rectangular and is deflected or shaped centrally so that it embodies a longitudinally extending channel 13. The latter extends throughout the entire length of the bottom 8, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and is closed at the back end thereof by means of a flange 14 and at the front end thereof by means of a flame 15. The flange 14 is spaced slightly forwards of the back 11 and is formed integrally with, and is bent upwardly from, the rear end portion of the part of the drawer bottom which forms the bottom of the channel 13. The flange 15 is spaced slightly rearwards of the front 10 and is formed integrally with, and is bent upwardly from, the front end portion of the part of the bottom 8 which forms the bottom of the channel 13. formed integrally with, and project upwardly from, the side margins of the drawer bottom 8, and together with the bottom, front and back of the drawer, form a filing compartment. The

front 1 0 closes the front of this compartment. It.

is of greater height than the sides 9 andback 11 and is connected to the front ends'of the sides 9 of the filing compartment and is connectedto the by means of brackets 16. The latter extend rearwardlyfrom the side margins of the front 10 and are welded or otherwise secured-to the outer faces of the sides 9. The back 11 closes the back end rear ends of the sides 9 by flanges 17. The latter are formed integrally with, and project forwardly from, the side margins of the back and are welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of thesides 9.

'The partitions 12 are formed of sheet metal and are substantially the same in width as the bottom 8 so that thespaces between them do not communicate with each other and the papers or material cannot slip from one space to the other.

The top margins of the partitions are extended so as toproject upwardly of the sides 9 of the drawer; In orderto facilitate access to the papers between the partitions and to provide for 'an adjustment of the space between the partitions, the partitions are mounted so that they are free toswing backwards and forwards in the drawer to a limited extent and so that they are ,bodily shiftable throughout substantially the entire length of the drawer. The mount whereby the partitions are supported in this manner comprises a rod lfiand a plurality of blocks 19. The rod 18 is located at one, side of, and extends lengthwise in, the channel 13 in the drawer bottom 8 andis' spaced slightly above the bottom part of the channel. The rear end of the rod 18 extends through an aperture 20 in the flange l4 and is provided with a cotter pin 21 which abuts against this flange and prevents forward movement of the. rod in the channel. The front end of the channel. The blocks 19 engage the bottom the rod extends'through an aperture 22 in the upstanding flange 15 at the front end of the channel 13 and is provided with a cotter pin 23 whereby it is held against rearward movement in The sides 9 are,

comprises pairs of arms 25. There is one pair of arms for each partition and these arms are welded or otherwise secured to the back faces of the partitions so that they extend vertically and the lower ends thereof project beyond the bottom margins of the partitions and into the channel 13. Sheet metal plates 26 are secured to the back faces of the partitions l2 and extend around and house the central and upper portions of the arms. 25. These plates are provided with side flanges 27 whereby they are held in spaced relation with respect to the partitions. The flanges 27 fit against the back faces of the partitions and are riveted or otherwise secured in place. The lower ends of'the arms are bent inwardly and fit in holes 28 in the sides of the blocks 19 so as to form pivotal connections between the blocks and the partitions whereby the latter are held or confined in the drawer to forward and rearward swinging movement. Lengthwise adjustment of the partitions in the drawer is effected by sliding them to or from the front of the drawer through the medium of the blocks 19 on the rod 18. In order to limit forward and rearward swinging of the partitions, the blocks 19 are provided at the sides thereof with pairs of oppositely facing stop lugs 29. These lugs, as shown in the drawings, are disposed on opposite sides of the arms 25 and have oppositely facing, upwardly divergent faces 30 which coact with the lower ends of the arms 25 to limit forward and rearward swinging of the partitions in the drawer. The lugs are integral with the blocks 19 and are preferably formed by recessing or cutting away the sides of the blocks. To assist the stop lugs 29 in limiting forward and rearward swinging movement of the partitions,

partitions by bending the latter into tubular" form and are of such length that the ends there of project beyond the side edges of the partitions and rest on the top edges of the sidesQ.

The partitions 12 are releasably locked or held against shift lengthwise of the drawer by means of a sheet metal rack 32 and a dog 33 on'each of the partitions. The rack 32 is disposed in the channel 13 in the drawer bottom 8 and is located at one side of the rod 18. It extends from one end of the channel to the other and is provided with a series of upstanding teeth 34 along one margin thereof. The dogs 33 are mounted for vertical sliding movement between the plates 26 and the rear faces'of the partitions 12. The upper ends of the dogs are provided with laterally extending ears which overlie the adjoining arms 25 and coact with the upper ends of the latter so as to limit downward movement of the dogs. Screws or bolts 36 extend through the'cenchannel 13' and are designed to interlock with the teeth 34 of the rack so as to effectthe desired locking of the partitions in their assigned positions; The spacing of the teeth 34 is such thatwhen the partitions are locked in place they are free to swing forwards and backwards to the extent permitted by the stop lugs 29 at the sides of. the blocks 19. The rack 32 is supported by way of a shaft 37 so that it may be swung downwardly in order to disengage the teeth 34 from the dogs 3.3 and thus release the partitions. for shift lengthwise of the drawer. The shaft 37 is rigidly secured in a tube 3.8 along the side margin of. the rack that isv opposite the. teeth 34. The

rear end of the shaft projects beyondthe rack and is journalled in a hole 39 in a plate on the upstanding flange 14. The frontend .of the shaft 37 projects beyond the front end of the rack and is journalled in a hole 41 in a bearing plate .42. The latter, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is .disposed at the front end of the channel 13 and is secured against the inner face of the upstanding flange 15. The rack 32 is swung into.- and out of interlocked relation with the dogs 33.

by means of an arm 43. The latter, is connected in any suitable manner to the front end of the shaft 37 and extends upwardly along the rear face of the front of the drawer. A knob 44 is attached to the upper end of the arm 43 and arm 43 in the position that it assumes when the rack 32 is in its operative position, that is, the position wherein the teeth 34 are interlocked with the 'dogs 33 on the partitions. The entrance end of the clip is fiared outwardly so as to facilitate shift of the arm into locked relation with respect to the clip. When it is desired to shift the partitions 12 lengthwise of the drawer, the arm 43 is released from the clip 45 and is then swung to one side so as to swing the rack 32 downwardly and disengage the teeth 34'from the dogs 33 (see dotted line position of rack in Figure 3). When the teeth of the rack are disengaged from the dogs, the partitions are free so that they may be slid either frontwards or backwards. When the 3 partitions are positioned in the manner desired, the arm 43 is swung in the opposite direction and into locked relation with the clip 45. This swinging of the arm results in upward swinging of the rack and interlocking of the teeth 34 and the dogs 33. When the dogs and teeth of the rack are in interlocked position, the partitions are held against lengthwise movement in the drawer, although they are free to swing to a limited extent forwards and backwards. By virtue of the fact that the dogs 33 are vertically slidable, upward swinging of the rack is not precluded when any of the dogs are disposed over one of the teeth 34. The bottom edges of the partitions, as shown in the drawings, rest on the top face of the bottom 8 of the drawer.

The herein described filing cabinet drawer con sists of but a small number of parts and therefore may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It is exceedingly simple as far as construction is concerned, and comprehends novel means for supporting the partitions for limited backward and forward swinging and movement lengthwise of the drawer, and for locking the partitions in their different assigned positions in the drawer.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

- Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a filing cabinet drawer having a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally of the channel, a block slidably mounted on the rod for movement lengthwise of the drawer, a

partition extending substantially =vertically the drawer and having a depending arm at the lower margin thereof projecting into the channel: and connected pivotally to the block so .thatthe partition is free to swing forwards and backwards and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by sliding of the block on the rod, andmeansassociated with the blockand coacting with the arm: for limting swinging movement of the partition. 2. In combination, afiling cabinet drawer hav-,

ing a longitudinal-channel ingthe bottom thereof,

a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally of the-channel, a blockslidably mounted on the rod: for movement lengthwise of the drawer, a partition extending substantially vertically in the drawer and-having a depending armat thev lowermargin thereof projecting into the channel and connected pivotally to the block so that the;

partition is free to swingforwards and backwards and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by sliding ofthe block on the rod, and a pair ,of stop lugs on the block positioned on opposite sides ofthe arm and coacting with the latter to limit swiging eithe -partition.

3. In combination, a filing cabinet ing a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally of the channel, a block slidably mounted on the rod for movementlengthwise of the drawer and.

having, a hole in, one side thereof, a partition extending substantially vertically in the drawer and providedat the lower portion thereof with a depending armprojeoting into the channel and having an inturned part fitting in the hole in the block and forming. a pivotal connection between the block and the partition whereby the partition is free to swing forwards and backwards in the drawer and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by sliding of the block on the rod, and means for limiting swinging movement of the partition.

4. In combination, a filing cabinet drawer having a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally of the channel, a block slidably mounted on the rod for movement lengthwise of the drawer and having a hole in one side thereof, a partition extending substantially vertically in the drawer and provided at the lower portion thereof with a depending arm projecting into the channel and having an inturned part fitting in the hole in the block and forming a pivotal connection between the block and the partition whereby the partition is free to swing forwards and backwards in the drawer and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by sliding of the block on the rod, and a pair of stop lugs connected to the block on opposite sides of the hole and coacting with the arm to limit swinging movement of the partition.

5. In combination, a filing cabinet drawer having a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally of the channel, a block slidably mounted on the rod for movement lengthwise of the drawer and having holes in the sides thereof, a partition extending substantially vertically in the drawer and provided at the lower portion thereof with a pair of laterally spaced, depending arms extending into the channel and on opposite sides of the block and having inturned lower ends fitting within the holes in the block sides respectively and forming a pivotal connection between the drawer hav block-and the partition whereby the partition is free to swing forwards. and backwards in the drawer and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by sliding of the block on the rod, and: means for limiting swinging movement-of the partition.

6. In'combinatlon, a filing cabinet drawer 'hav-- ing a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a rod disposed in and extending longitudinally forming a pivotal connection between the block and the partition whereby-the partition is nee to swing forwards and backwards in the drawer and is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer by" sliding of the block on the rod, and pairs of stop lugs on the sides of the block arranged in straddled relation with respect to theholes and'coact' ing with the arms to limit swinging movement of the partition. I

7. In combination, a filing cabinet drawer, a

partition extending substantially vertically-in the drawer and mounted so that it is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer, and means for releasa bly locking the partition in different longitudinal positions in the drawer comprising a dog 'on the partition and a rack extending lengthwise of the drawer and pivoted to swing vertically into and out of interlocked relation with the dog.

8. In combination, a filing cabinet drawer, a-

drawer andv mounted so that it is adjustable longi-- tudinally of the drawenand means-for releasabl'y locking the partition in different longitudinalposi-tionsi'n the drawer'compri'sing a depending dog on the-partition and a rack disposed in and extending lengthwise of the drawer provided with upwardly extending teeth and pivoted so as to swing vertically in order to bring the teeth into and-out of interlocked relation with the'dog.

9. Iii-combination, a filing cabinet drawer'having 'a longitudinal channel in the bottom thereof, a "partition extendingsubstantially vertically in the-drawer and mounted so that it is bodily adjustable longitudinally of the drawer, and means for releasably retaining the'partition in its different adjustedpositions in the drawer comprising a dog depending from the bottom portion of the partition and extending mm the channel and an elongated rack disposed in and lengthwise of the channel and pivoted to swing verticallyinto and outo'f interlocked relation with the dog.

"102111 combination, a filing cabinet/drawer, a partition extending-substantially verticallyin the drawer and mounted so that it is free to swing forwards backwards to a limited extentland is adjustable longitudinally of the drawer, and means-forlocking the partition in its variousadjusted' positions and at the same time permitting of limited swinging movement of said partition comprisingg'adog on the partition and a rack disposed in and extending lengthwise of the drawer and pivoted, to swing on a horizontal, longitudinal axis, into and out of interlocked relation with the dog. I

, JOSEPH C. SEYL. 

